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PATRIOT LEAGUE
The dictionary definition of parity should have a picture of the 2014-15 Patriot League standings next to it. At times last season it looked like any of the ten teams in the conference could win the regular season title. 60% of the league ended up finishing the season within two games of each other, from 3rd place down to 8th. Bucknell ended up taking the regular season title by a game over Colgate. Even though the higher seeds got to host the conference tournament games, Bucknell and Colgate were upended in their semifinals, and 4th-seeded Lafayette ended up defeating 6th-seeded American in the finals to take the automatic bid and a 16 seed in the NCAA Tournament (where they promptly lost by 41 points to Villanova). Bucknell, as the regular season champion, received an invite to the NIT. No other Patriot League team played in a postseason tournament.
This year, we may be in store for more of the same. Heading into the season, no less than five teams appear to be serious contenders for the league title. Bucknell is the pick to repeat, but Lehigh, Boston University, Loyola, and Army should all be in the hunt. For Army, which returns virtually its entire lineup from a team that was expected to contend last season and ended up finishing dead last in the conference standings, this season could be about redemption. And if the Cadets can redeem themselves and finish at or near the top of the standings, they might finally break through to make their first ever NCAA tournament appearance.
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Bucknell – The Bison are the pick to win the league with almost everyone back from last year’s regular season champions including leading scorer Chris Hass. The team should have depth as well with solid sixth man Zach Thomas leading the way. They will have to succeed with a new head coach, however, as Nathan Davis takes over now that Dave Paulsen has moved on to George Mason.
2. Lehigh – The Mountain Hawks have conference Rookie of the Year Kahron Ross in the backcourt and conference Player of the Year Tim Kempton down low. The four returning starters gained tons of good experience last season, and with a deep bench returning as well, appear to have all the pieces needed to contend.
3. Army – The Black Knights will have tons of scoring with all five starters back including Kyle Wilson, Tanner Plomb and Dylan Cox. If they can improve on the defensive end, their first dance ticket may finally be waiting.
4. Boston University – The Terriers return six players that averaged 8 or more points per game last season, led by Cedric Hankerson. They appear poised to among the group of teams making a run at the conference title.
5. Loyola – The Greyhounds have depth and experience, and will be welcoming back Jarred Jones who missed almost all of last season due to injury. His return should help improve the team’s defense and could turn them into a surprise contender.
6. American – Jesse Reed is back, but John Schoof and Pee Wee Gardner are not. The Eagles will need their newcomers to fill in the gaps if they want any shot at contending.
7. Lafayette – The good news is that the combination of Nick Lindner and Bryce Scott provides the Leopards with the foundations of a very solid backcourt. The bad news is that with three starters gone, they are extremely thin down low — probably too thin to return to the Big Dance.
8. Holy Cross – The Crusaders welcome Bill Carmody in as their new head coach, and he will be bringing with him the Princeton-style offense. Carmody should be able to build the team into a contender, but it will take him a few years to get the sytem and the right players in place.
9. Navy – The Midshipmen may be in for a long season with the top two scorers from a 19 loss team gone.
10. Colgate – The Red Raiders do return senior guard Austin Tillotson, but the rest of the starters are gone and no returning reserve averaged more than 3 points per game last year.